Afghanistan's Drug Economy Is Fuelling Terrorism

Surging opium production in Afghanistan is
contributing to instability and even terror campaigns in the
war-ravaged country, the United Nations' most senior
anti-drugs official said today on the eve of an
international conference on the issue.

"The fight against
terrorism will be more effective if drug trafficking is
interrupted," said Antonio Maria Costa, the Executive
Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), citing
"mounting evidence of drug money being used to finance
criminal activities, including terrorism."

The UN reports
that opium production has continued to grow in Afghanistan -
by far the world's biggest poppy producer - despite several
positive anti-drug steps by authorities recently.

A survey
released by UNODC in October showed that Afghanistan's
estimated opium production rose 6 per cent last year from
3,400 tons to 3,600 tons. Opium is now cultivated in 28 of
the country's 32 provinces, up from 18 provinces in
1999.

A more recent survey of Afghan farmers' intentions
for 2004 has revealed that the area under opium poppy
cultivation could increase further this year. Already about
1.7 million Afghans, or 7 per cent of the population, are
thought to be involved in the industry.

"If we don't start
translating counter-narcotics commitment into lower levels
of production, we run the risk of [an] opium economy
undermining all that has been achieved in creating a
democratic new Afghanistan," Mr. Costa warned.

In addition
to addressing the International Conference on
Counter-Narcotics in Afghanistan, being held in Kabul on
Sunday and Monday, Mr. Costa will hold direct talks with
leading Afghan officials.

In today's remarks, he hailed
several government measures, including Afghanistan's new
anti-drug laws and the adoption of the National Drug Control
Strategy, which aims to completely eliminate opium
production within 10 years.

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